Articles for February, 2009
Another Open Letter to James Ragland
Dear James Ragland:
I sincerely hope it doesn’t feel like I’m harping on you. But after reading your column this morning, in which you argue that Six Flags shouldn’t sell beer, I felt compelled to share some thoughts with you.
My first thought is that I just made a beer pun. Harp? Beer sales? But that’s beside the point.
The point is, your argument against beer sales at Six Flags is a lousy one. First, you say they shouldn’t sell beer because people are “worried about patrons getting drunk, getting on a roller coaster, and throwing up on rides and spectators alike.” When a Six Flags spokeswoman points out that you don’t see that happening very often at other parks that sell beer, you say, “In this case, stats don’t mean much: once is too often if you’re on the wrong end.”
Change Has Come—To dmagazine.com
Yes. Finally. The mystery is no more. As many of you guessed, we’re relaunching our website starting—now. (Though, depending on your service provider, the new site rollout might happen later tonight, or tomorrow, but, by golly, let’s hope by Monday.) dmagazine.com and all of the blogs that call it home—Hey! Like this one!—have a new look and scads of new features. More on that later.
But first, to those among you who are underwhelmed by the Big News that D executive editor Tim Rogers has been promising all week: know that Tim Rogers does not have cable television. He’s easily impressed by all matters technological.
Now, for more on the relaunch, let’s jump like we used to …
Big Bank Gives Generously, Covers It Up
If there isn’t just a little populist anger over the bailouts, why are banks that accepted TARP dough running scared from public opinion? Recently, a local charitable organization held its annual big deal and, in the program, broke with tradition by listing a major sponsor simply as “anonymous.” The unnamed sponsor, turns out, was one of those TARP-accepting mega-banks, apparently afraid of appearing too loose with its jing.
Friday Afternoon Random Question: Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes
If you couldn’t change everything, but you could change one thing, what would it be?
(I’ve got my eye on you Goethe Rous; watch your mouth.)
Kambula the Gorilla, R.I.P.
Kambula, 32, one of the three Western lowland gorillas at the Fort Worth Zoo, was euthanized yesterday after battling abdominal abscesses and heart problems.
Cue it, and pour one out.
Where Eric Was Last Night
ZOMG! Jonas Brothers!!!1! WOOOOOOOO!!!1!!
A Dallas ‘Tea Party’ Rages Against The Machine
This rant by CNBC’s Rick Santelli against big-government spending got things started. Then the outfit called Top Conservatives on Twitter took up the call and, within days, “Tea Parties” were organized in a number of cities protesting federal bailout schemes–including today in Dallas. Here are some of an estimated 250 who gathered at Victory Plaza to dunk the “stimulus bill” in a tank of tea, page by page. Said an organizer: “We’re just people who don’t want our kids and grandchildren shackled with thousands of dollars of debt each.” Oh, hell, folks, why not? It’s only money!
Staubach ‘Pained’ Writing Cowboys Check
While the poor economy was on everybody’s minds at yesterday’s media bash for the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee in Fort Worth, early signs for the February 2011 game are encouraging. Committee President and CEO Bill Lively says no fewer than nine outfits have ponied up for $1 million “founding” sponsorships so far, including Fluor, Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Hillwood Development. Even so, committee chairman Roger Staubach couldn’t ignore the downturn’s pinch, recalling how he’d recently written a “big check” for his swanky digs at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium in Arlington. “It was painful,” he joked onstage at the Fort Worth Club. Sitting nearby, ‘Boys owner Jerry Jones said that he would frame the check. “Does that mean,” Roger shot back, “that you won’t cash it?!”
Friday Fun: Cursor*10 (Part Two)
I do not expect many people to remember Cursor*10 Part One, but no matter. Cursor*10 Part Two is a fun Flash game regardless. Simple, too. Move the cursor up the stairs. Watch out for traps and obstacles. Hurry, hurry. Have fun.
At Some Point Today, Everything Changes
That whole Casey Thompson thing yesterday (270 comments and counting) taxed our servers and set us back a bit. But at some point today, some stuff is going to happen that will freakin’ blow your mind.
Bushes to Decherd: “What Do We Gotta Do to Get a Paper Around Here?”
The eleventy-billionth FrontBurnervian points us to this story in People about the Bushes settling into their house. They don’t have much furniture. They’re having to borrow chairs from the Secret Service. And it seems they can’t get the Dallas Morning News delivered. Awesome.
Update: Jim Moroney says they have been delivering — to the police guards stationed at Daria Place, since that’s as close as you can get to the house. Even more awesome.
Leading Off (2/27/09): Jay Leno Edition
1. Governor Rick Perry’s peeps have been fishing around Dallas City Hall for negative information on Kay Bailey Hutchison’s husband, Ray, a local bond attorney. Most damaging thing found so far: he’s an attorney.
2. Jacquielynn Floyd reverses her position and is now in favor of banning the sale and breeding of pit bulls. That’s intense, huh? I mean, when’s the last time you heard of a woman not in favor of a sale on anything?
3. A Spanish company, Cintra, has won the right to reconstruct LBJ Freeway … or, as it’s known around their office, El LBJ Freeway. Hi-yo!
Leading Off: The Late Night/Early Morning Edition
Yow. Zah. I am editing some of the vile and vulgar remarks made on SideDish in response to post about chef Casey Thompson’s contoversial reaction to Wednesday night’s Top Chef show. As I was working, I received some disturbing news about the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. Doesn’t anyone sleep anymore?
Technical Difficulties on FrontBurner
Apologies to all who’ve been frustrated with our downed site. Our server couldn’t handle all the traffic from across the country generated by Sarah’s post on SideDish about Casey Thompson.
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